Spring Favorites - THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN

Battle of Burnsville- Civil War

Apr. 21 - Living History - Battle of Burnsville

Commemorating the 151th Anniversary of the Civil War and the Battle of Bursnville the Yancey History Association will sponsor a living history event on the grounds of the McElroy House featuring a recreation of the soldiers' camp life, and exhibit of veterans pictures, letters and personal items from the 1860's plus craft demonstrations, pastimes and entertainments of the era portrayed in period atire.

Burnsville Metric - Saturday, April 28, 2012 Register/Get Info here


Not a bad place to be in late April... (Photo by Michael Davis, 2006) 
"Held annually on the last Saturday of April (April 28, 2012), the Burnsville Metric is a great way to start off your cycling season.  It is casual but well-supported and comprises some of the flattest, most scenic roads in Yancey and Mitchell counties.  

60.7 miles; 3 well-supplied rest stops
Roving SAG support
Ham radio communication provided by MARC (Mayland Amateur Radio Club)" 

Open 8:30 to 12:30 Saturdays late April  (April 21, 2012) through October at the BurnsvilleTown Center. Seasonal locally grown produce and crafts 

Parkway Playhouse - Burnsville, NC - oldest continuously operating summer theater in  NC

2012 Season Opens April 28

Events are within 10 minutes of THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN.  We are also home to the world-renowned Penland School of Crafts and have more artists, per capita, than anywhere else in America...so galleries and studios galore to visit.  Our celebrated natural beauty and plethora of mountain sports make this one of the top tourist destinations in America.

Visit with us at THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN.  Hike our manicured trails, enjoy a cookout at one of our 4 park areas, relax by a cascading waterfall, try your hand at flyfishing, enjoy photography or reading in one of the lean-to's along a rushing creek.

We want you to get to know our hometowns and the salt-of-the-earth people who live here.
March and April 3 days/2 nights at a wonderful historic B&B ($99 – no taxes or fees)
includes $100 dining certificate at the Knife and Fork, winner of the 2011 WNC Chef Challenge and Cooking Light’s 2011 Small-Town Chef Award as well as Garden&Gun’s 50 Best Southern Foods (Oct/Nov 2011 issue).

 Aaahh...the comfort and genteelness of small-town America

Best Fall Recipe - Farmers' Market Fall Favorite - 2011 WNC Chef Challenge Winner - Nate Allen (Guest Author)

Now at the local markets there is a prolific amount of hearty winter squash. My favorite mixture of local fall ingredients has been roasted delicata squash with caramelized shallots, chestnuts, parsley and toasted squash seeds.

2 delicata squash, halved lengthwise, seeds removed and cleaned

2 tblsp olive oil

salt and pepper

4 sprigs fresh thyme

6 chestnuts, scored and roasted and removed from shells

1 tblsp butter, unsalted

6 shallots peeled

Place the four halves of delicata, cut side up, on a baking sheet and season with salt and pepper, drizzle with one tblsp of olive oil and place one sprig of fresh thyme in each. Roast at 400 degrees for thirty minutes. Meanwhile place the other tblsp of oil in a saute pan and toast the seeds with a little salt and pepper until they are golden. Remove and allow to cool on a plate. Use the same pan to caramelize whole shallots and chestnuts together on medium heat in the butter until they have softened and have browned a bit. Mix the shallots and chestnuts with the toasted seeds and divide into the four squash cavities and return to the oven to get everything uniformly hot and serve. A little bit of fresh herb such as basil or parsley is great on top just before you serve. Enjoy.

Another Chef Award for Nate - Another Great Recipe of his - Cooking Light

Enjoy the award-winning Knife and Fork - compliments of the owners - when you visit THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN...one of our favorite hometown hangouts. Call 866-378-4769 for an appointment.

The Cove at Celo Mountain is a private gated community secluded in the breathtaking Toe River Valley of the storied Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina - just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Live the Mountains...Breathe the Dream...

FARMERS’ MARKETS OPEN APRIL 24TH!!

FARM-TO-TABLE FRESHNESS AT ITS BEST!
Even our Regional Library promotes our incredible farms and home vegetable gardens in this area of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The “Together We Read” project for 2009 chose Barbara Kingsolver’s book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle – a Year of Food Life as the project’s focus . Book club participants had lunch prepared with foods from our Farmers’ Markets and followed that with discussions in our libraries. We are serious supporters of our locally-produced food and sustainable agriculture. One of the best things about living in these mesmerizing mountains is the abundance of fresh, organically-grown produce, pesticide-free/antibiotic-free organic meats, handcrafted goat cheeses in the most luscious flavors, handmade gourmet vinegars and condiments, a variety of locally-produced honeys, homemade breads, locally-grown shitake mushrooms, and so many other delectables. Even the soul and spirit can feast on authentic mountain crafts for sale and live bluegrass music, with a few chairs placed around the musicians, where laden shoppers can sit a spell and just enjoy this wonderful, bucolic experience. You will want to take time to visit with the vendors and read about them online. (Links to farms are at the end of this blog.) You will be amazed at the impact our farms have in Western North Carolina and beyond. Many sell produce to restaurants in Asheville as well as our own towns. Elizabeth, from Firefly Farm, attended Duke University and sells the produce she grows during the Market Days. She also hosts magnificent, 5-course gourmet meals “down by the river” – up on Celo - a few times a year on her farm. The drive to Firefly Farm through the mountains and valleys is breathtakingly beautiful, the food fresh from farm to table with wine and live music. Seating is very limited, so get the dates and flyers from her while you are shopping the Farmer’s Market. Whatever Jake and Nana (Jake’s Farm and Nana’s Kitchen) are selling from their booth is incredibly delicious – from the homemade desserts, breads, and pizzas to the fresh produce. You will find your own favorite vendors and offerings. Other market activities often include such events as health screenings, face painting, and gourmet cooking demonstrations.
This is the 19th season of this Farmers’ Market, so they have had time to get this just right. Oh, there will also be plants – both ornamental and garden – and cut flowers for sale from local farms. You will want to get there early as many things will sell out very fast. Just don’t buy all the Oak Moon Creamery Mountain Mediterranean goat cheese (drenched with extra virgin olive oil, locally-grown garlic and fresh herbs.) I have dibs on at least one of them! Now all that is on Saturday.
When and Where for Burnsville’s Farmers’ Market
Date: Apr 24, 2010
Start Time: 8:30 AM
End Time: 12:30 PM
Organized by: Yancey County Farmers Market
Address: South Main Street
Burnsville, NC 28714
Phone: (828) 682-4108

On Wednesdays, head 15 miles down the road to Spruce Pine for our OTHER Farmers' Market. Here is what you will find there:
Featured vendors from Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties will be selling shitake mushrooms, rabbit meat, grass-fed beef, pastured chicken, duck and turkey. Organic and naturally grown produce: such as early broccoli and squash, fresh herbs, asparagus, blueberries, strawberries, organic apples, cider.
Eggs, artisan breads, take-and-bake pizza and assorted baked goods such as cookies, scones, and bars will be available. We have jams and jellies, honey, goat cheese and camembert cheese too. Our artists create hand carved stones, garden sculptures, glass nugget and stained glass pieces, skinning knives and kitchen cutlery, dried flower art, natural soaps and lotions as well as beeswax candles.
When and Where for Spruce Pine Farmers’ Market
(May-October)
The porch of Wildflower's
297 Oak Avenue (also known as Upper Street)
Spruce Pine North Carolina
Every Wednesday 2-5:30 pm May- October http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M36489

For further information about our local farms:
Appalachian Seeds http://www.appalachianseeds.com/
Firefly Farm http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M13842
Bee Log Farm and Nursery http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M18494
The Mushroom Hut at Fox Farms http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M27083
Green Toe Ground Farm http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M7524
Bee Log Garlic & Flower Farm http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M18495
Oak Moon Creamery http://oakmoonfarm.webs.com/cheese.htm

For a great read and delicious recipe ideas for all your Farmer Market finds:
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle – A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver (http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/